While it will be a long time before you read this letter via this blog, I wanted to take a minute to give you a life lesson on people. The world is full of all sorts of people. There are kind people, compassionate people, people that want to shape the world into a better place, people that are funny, people that are sincere, people that are different but are extraordinarily beautiful because they are different. There are people that are unique, people that are simple, people that are shy and people that are bold. There are also people that are cruel, people that are mean, people that will try to hurt you, people that will probably make fun of you and people that will treat you like less of a person simply because you are different. As your mother, I want to shield you from the bad people in the world yet I know that is not possible. I want to protect you from harsh statements of judgment and bigotry, but I know that you will experience this at some point in your life. What we must teach you is how to rise above those that try to do harm to you, how to stand tall when they try to bring you down and how to react respectfully (as hard as this may be) rather than on their same level. I want you to always remember that you cannot change individuals and their shortcut to thinking, but what you can do is to teach them the difference between right and wrong through your own actions.

While you are only 14 months old, you are already blossoming into an amazing and unique individual. You have risen above every hurdle that has already been thrown at you in your short life. You have overcome life altering seizures, you have begun to understand how to navigate through life as a visually impaired child, you have proven that you can accomplish any task you are given even if it takes you a bit longer. You have inspired many, you have shown that hard work does really pay off and you continue to surprise doctors and therapists with every single accomplishment you achieve.

These are the physical aspects of your life you have learned to overcome, but unfortunately you will endure emotional aspects that may not seem fair. You may not understand why people are mean and you will not be defeated if you shed a tear when you are alone. Just remember this…you are who you are for a reason. And while many cruel and petty individuals may try to make you feel bad about who you are, I want you to know that you are perfect. You are our miracle child and if I could have personally hand picked a daughter, I would have picked you exactly the way you are.

You are beautiful.

You are funny.

You are smart.

You are strong.

Loving you more and more with each passing day,

Your Mama

“Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.”

-Leo F. Buscaglia quotes (American guru, tireless advocate of the power of love)